Advertisement

'I don’t enjoy that': Andy Murray's brutal Nick Kyrgios truth bomb

Pictured here, Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios meet at the net after a tennis match.
Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios have forged a close friendship over the years on tour together. Pic: Getty

Andy Murray may be one of Nick Kyrgios' best friends on the men's tennis tour, but the three-time major winner has offered the Aussie a brutal reality check about his infamous antics.

Murray returned to the ATP Tour this week after last competing at Wimbledon, with the Brit reaching the second round of the Cincinnati Masters with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

The 34-year-old and Kyrgios have long enjoyed a close relationship, with the pair often speaking in glowing terms about one another.

'I'M HOPING NOT': Serena Williams' shock reveal about daughter

'VERY SELFISH': Tennis world savages World No.3 over vaccine snub

'NEVER FELT 100%': Ash Barty's surprise admission amid US Open bid

Murray and Kyrgios even once took part in an infamous Instagram live chat that went viral, with the Brit mocking the 26-year-old about how many glasses of wine he'd had.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Murray didn't mince his words when asked about which players he enjoyed watching.

In making reference to Kyrgios, the Brit couldn't help but take aim at the volatile side of the Aussie that has often been the source of his downfall.

“I like watching [Corentin] Moutet. I like watching [Gael] Monfils. I like watching [Nick] Kyrgios when he’s into it,” he said in an interview with atptour.com.

“When he’s not into it, I don’t enjoy that at all. But when he’s into it, I really enjoy watching him.

“Some of the youngsters now, the young, young ones, are really fun to watch. I like watching [Daniil] Medvedev as well. I think he’s a very interesting player who has got lots of variety and has an awkward-looking game. But he’s very intelligent on the court and that’s what I like to see. I like people who are thinking out there.”

Pictured right, Andy Murray hits a tennis ball and Nick Kyrgios has a laugh during a match.
Andy Murray admits he doesn't like watching Nick Kyrgios play when his head isn't in the tennis match. Pic: Getty

Murray, who owns two Cinci titles and played in the 2016 final, has been struggling with a groin strain but impressed in the straight sets win over Gasquet.

“I thought I did well. I moved pretty well for my first singles match in a while on hard courts," he said. “(I was) certainly, a little bit more confident in my movement than when I played him a couple of years ago (2019).

“He uses all the angles on the court really well and makes you move a lot. I served well (and) got a lot of free points on my serve.

"I thought I was taking control of the rallies when I had the opportunities so it was a good match.”

Andy Murray wins battle of the veterans

Wild card Murray and Gasquet, a longtime rival whose 53rd ranking meant he had to qualify, first played 15 years ago.

The Scot, who reached the Wimbledon third round, leads their series 9-4. They last met in 2019 here.

Murray hammered 14 aces and broke three times in the win lasting just under two hours.

After three games which lasted for a total of 20 minutes to start, Murray grabbed a 5-3 lead, which he lost a game later before re-breaking to win the first set 6-4.

Gasquet was broken in the final game of the match after saving a match point before Murray prevailed.

Kyrgios was most recently defeated by America’s Riley Opelka 4-6 7-6 6-4 at the Canadian Open.

It was the third straight defeat for Kyrgios as he looks to prepare for the upcoming US Open.

The hardcourt swing hasn't been kind to Kyrgios and his run of bad luck continued in Toronto, where Kyrgios was left fuming by a crucial call in the second set tiebreak.

Kyrgios was left fuming with the score at 4-4 after his claim that Opelka had touched the net with his foot was dismissed by the chair umpire.

with agencies

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.